FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots’ final preparations for Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Broncos were well underway, and that included a wake-up call earlier than anybody really wanted Friday.
The game is at 1 p.m. MST Sunday, so, working backward, the team decided to depart for Denver shortly after its 11 a.m. practice Friday. That meant 8 a.m. player meetings, and a Bill Belichick press conference at 7 — minutes before sunrise.
When the Patriots earlier this week decided to leave on Friday, as opposed to their usual Saturday departure, it was in part to avoid a potential doozie of a snowstorm. But they also considered other logistics.
“It’s a 1 o’clock game, so it’s a quicker turnaround than, for example, last time we played out there on Sunday night,’’ Belichick said, referring to the Patriots’ loss to the Broncos Nov. 29. “So it’s a little bit different schedule.’’
Players ambled into the bowels of Gillette Stadium throughout the 7 o’clock hour, empty duffle bags — big and blue, adorned with a team logo — waiting for them by their lockers.
Are you a morning person, Dont’a Hightower?
“Not so much,’’ Hightower said. “Not today.’’
Added a sleepy Logan Ryan, before stepping to the podium after Belichick: “I got to get the crust out of my eyes.’’
The early start allowed for an early end to the workday. By the time the team practiced, in shells and sweats in the sunny but bitterly cold weather, everyone was plenty awake.
The Patriots finished their practice week with perfect attendance for the second day in a row. It was the first time everybody practiced on back-to-back days since Oct. 8-9, when New England was coming out of its bye week.
Many Patriots are dealing with one ailment or another, however. The team listed 14 players as limited in practice Friday and questionable for Sunday’s game. Tre’ Jackson (knee) and LaAdrian Waddle (shoulder) were downgraded to out. Among the defensive players listed as questionable: Hightower (knee), Jamie Collins (back), Nate Ebner (hand), Darius Fleming (back/shin), Jonathan Freeny (hand), Chandler Jones (abdomen/toe), and Rob Ninkovich (shin).
And on the offensive side of the ball: Danny Amendola (knee), Scott Chandler (knee), Julian Edelman (foot), Rob Gronkowski (knee/back), Matthew Slater (shin), Bryan Stork (ankle), and Sebastian Vollmer (ankle).
There are also five players who were full participants and probable for the game: Tom Brady (ankle), Patrick Chung (foot), Josh Kline (shoulder), Brandon LaFell (foot), and Devin McCourty (ankle).
Snyder joins roster
The Patriots promoted rookie linebacker Kevin Snyder from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, filling the hole created by Jerod Mayo’s move to season-ending injured reserve.
Snyder — listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 240 pounds — signed with the Patriots Dec. 16. An undrafted free agent, Snyder started the year with the Lions but suffered an injury during the preseason and was placed on IR.
Detroit released him in October. He later spent a week on the 49ers’ practice squad.
The Patriots now have five former Rutgers players — Snyder, plus Ryan, Freeny, Devin McCourty, and Duron Harmon — on the 53.
That familiarity has helped, Snyder said, as he’s acclimated to life as a Patriot and the organization’s defensive schemes over the last month-plus.
“It’s not that [the playbook is] overly complicated,’’ Snyder said Thursday. “It’s just the way things change and the way they want guys to do things each week, there’s little tweaks. You’re trying to learn the base, and they throw different things at you.’’
“I’ve been doing the same stuff I’ve been doing, just trying to work my way into special teams, just trying to still get all the defensive stuff down.’’
As for Mayo, the compliments from his teammates continued. On Friday, it was Hightower’s turn.
“I thought I was a smart football player,’’ Hightower said. “But, I mean, that dude could be a defensive coordinator right now, so just literally learning so much from him has just really meant a lot for me and my career.’’
Nice footwork
It doesn’t happen often, and it’s rarely the designed play, but Tom Brady running the ball is an event — a slow-motion, anxiety-inducing, crowd-thrilling event.
A dramatic example came last Saturday, when Brady scrambled for 10 yards (and very nearly a touchdown) before absorbing a big hit.
Julian Edelman said Brady was “like a Clydesdale.’’
Scrambling, be it for a gain or merely to keep a play alive while his receivers get open, is something Brady has worked on in recent years.
“There was a point where I felt like that was becoming a real problem for me as a player — not being able to extend anything,’’ Brady said.
“That’s been a big point of emphasis the last two or three years, was how to buy everybody more time.
“I think we’ve done a better job of that the last couple of years than I did maybe four or five years ago.’’
Given that Brady isn’t exactly viewed as a mobile quarterback, there’s also the surprise factor.
“If I have to run, I think that could be a pretty frustrating thing for a defense, too, because they’re saying, ‘How could I let this guy run? Of all the things, this guy?’?’’ Brady said.
Amendola fined
Danny Amendola was fined $23,152 by the NFL for his hit on Chiefs cornerback Jamell Fleming in the divisional-round game. During a Chiefs punt in the first half, Amendola drilled Fleming in the head/neck area near the goal line. Belichick and Amendola said afterward they thought it was a legal hit. Amendola has said he will appeal the fine . . . Patriots Hall of Famer Ty Law will serve as the team’s honorary captain on Sunday at Denver. Law played on three Super Bowl-winning teams, and the Patriots are 3-0 when he’s an honorary captain, with two of those wins coming in AFC title games. “Ty Law has been a part of so many big playoff moments for our franchise over the years,’’ owner Robert Kraft said in a statement, “and I am so glad he can join us once again.’’
Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @timbhealey.
